Eastleigh’s new Mayor Installed

Thursday night saw the annual Mayor making ceremony take place at the Towns Civic Offices as the outgoing Mayoress Pamela Holden- Brown made way for new Mayor John Caldwell – the Conservative councillor for Hiltingbury East.

Mrs Holden-Brown had a vote of thanks proposed and seconded by councillors Haulwen Broadhurst and Graham Smith while John Caldwell was proposed and seconded by Councillors Godfrey Olson OBE and Michael Hughes.

While making their speeches the Conservative councillors humorously speculated whether, in view of the recent government coalition, a power sharing arrangement could be entered into with the ruling Liberal Democrats.

‘Not likely’ responded council leader Keith House provoking laughter.

The new Mayor announced which charities he would be supporting in his mayoral year. These are Hampshire & IOW Air Ambulance Trust – which since its inception has attended over 2000 incidents in Eastleigh and relies entirely on voluntary donations – and ‘Open Sight’ a Bishopstoke based Charity for the visually impaired.

Among guests attending were the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Hampshire, the former MP for Eastleigh Baron Chidgey of Hamble le Rice and the Chairman of Eastleigh British Legion, Norman Brown MBE.

Long serving Councillor for Eastleigh Central ward, Wayne Irish, was installed as Deputy Mayor and the Mayor’s Chaplin will be the Vicar of Chandlers Ford the Rev Dr Ian Bird.

Music for the ceremony was provided by students from Thornden School and the guests enjoyed a generous buffet afterwards with ‘Eastleigh News’ attempting to consume the equivalent of an entire years worth of his Council Tax payments – but failing miserably due to having eaten earlier in the evening.